Students Prioritize In-Person Degrees As MBA Applications Rise Again In 2025

Applications to global MBA programs have increased for the second year in a row, buoyed by growing demand for in-person learning. A newly published GMAC survey revealed MBA applications for the 2025-26 academic year rose by 2% year-on-year. This followed a record 13% increase last year.

More than 300 business schools across 41 countries took part in the 2025 Application Trends Survey, which measures global interest in graduate business education annually. In 2025, the report covered a total of 515 MBA programs around the world.

MBA student interest shifts to in-person degrees 

The survey highlighted that growth in applications was concentrated among full-time, two-year programs, which grew by 4% globally. Full-time options were, in fact, the only type of MBA to report an increase, with executive, flexible, and part-time MBAs all seeing drops of between 10 and 15%. The full-time, two-year MBA was also the only program type that received an increased number of applications from both domestic (4%) and international students (8%).

The report indicated that this contrast in demand for different program formats could be due to the ongoing shift away from remote work among many top corporations. “It is possible that as many workplaces 'return to the office' and sentiment toward remote work fades away, applicant preferences for classroom learning are following suit,” the report stated.

On the other hand, schools offering a flexible MBA reported a 30% drop in international applications—the sharpest decline of any program format. This may be down to the ongoing shift away from “pandemic-era policies,” according to the report. A natural correction has been happening since 2020—when interest in online and hybrid study boomed during the pandemic—it has then decreased over time as more students have expressed a preference for person-to-person interaction.

Demand for master's programs grows, driven by in-person study

Overall, the picture for graduate business education in 2025 was positive. Although MBA applications only saw a modest increase in 2025, applications to all graduate management programs (including master's in management and specialized master's degrees) grew by 7%. When combined with last year’s totals, this meant business school applications increased by 19% over the last two years.

However, that growth has been felt unevenly across program types, with a definite shift toward full-time, in-person degrees. Across all graduate business degree types, full-time, in-person options saw an 8% increase this year, while every other study format reported a fall in interest.

Regional differences in application growth 

The Application Trends Survey also revealed that growth in global business school applications was heavily focused in particular regions.

Much of the change was felt outside of the traditional hotbeds of business education. For example, while applications rose in India (10%), mainland Europe (11%), and East and Southeast Asia (25%). For the 2025-26 academic year, applications to business school fell by 1% in the US, 4% in the UK, and a significant 35% in Canada.

Elsewhere, the report highlighted a significant growth in interest among business masters programs, particularly specialized degrees such as masters in marketing and accounting, further evidencing a shift in study preferences among business school applicants today.